Crews building line around national park fire

Park officials said Thursday crews set up pumps to draw water from a creek to help with firefighting.

About 60 people are fighting the fire.

The fire, which is roughly 9 miles west of Estes Park, was last mapped Wednesday at 1,488 acres. No structures are threatened, but steep, hazardous terrain has made suppression difficult. Containment is about 40 percent, Weaver said.

The wildfire started Oct. 9 and is expected to continue burning until significant snowfall occurs. A fire and smoking ban is in effect until further notice in the backcountry of the park, east of the Continental Divide. Moraine Park Campground remains open and campfires in grates are allowed. Use of fire anywhere in the area should be used with extreme caution.

nformation about the fire is available at www.inciweb.org, or by dialing (970) 586-1381, a recorded fire information number. New information about the Fern Lake Fire will be released as it becomes available. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit www.nps.gov/romo.